SEEDS sent into space and returned to a Bracknell school have started to sprout.

Year 8 pupils at Garth Hill College were given 200 of the astronomic seeds to plant and rear.

The seedlings were part of a two kilogram load of rocket seeds sent to the International Space Station in March as part of British Earth.

Half of the seeds given to Garth had been kept on earth, while the other half had been sent to the station where Major Tim Peake is stationed.

By growing the seeds, pupils at the school will help increase knowledge about growing plants in space.

Jane Oxford-Gurr, head of communications and extended services at the Bull Lane school, said: “Garth Hill pupils are excited to be taking part in this experiment and will be taking regular measurements and looking after the seedlings.

“All the data collected by the pupils will be recorded for analysis by professional biostatisticians at the European Space Agency.”

She said the experiment will help the agency assess the impact of space on plants grown from seed, which could help feed people on long distance journeys across the universe.

The school is one of many across the country taking part in the ‘out of this world’ educational project.

The RHS Campaign for School Gardening and the UK Space Agency have partnered to teach half a million children about science in space, as well as life on earth.